Germany’s Dustin Brown received a standing ovation after he saved four match points on Thursday to reach the qualifying round at the Australian Open after a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(16) victory over World No. 248 Di Wu of China.
“I’ve only played a long tiebreak like that once in a final set. It was just a very difficult match. He started off so well and I realised I just had to get loose and swing,” said Brown, who led 4/1 in the tie-break. “I tried to make him think. He played unbelievable shots on my match points in the tie-break.”
Brown now plays 18-year-old American Stefan Kozlov, who beat Yannick Hanfmann of Germany 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4.
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Australia’s John-Patrick Smith, currently No. 220 in the ATP Rankings, overcame sixth seed Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-2 for a final round test against American Kevin King, who knocked out Zdenek Kolar 6-1, 7-6(2).
Elsewhere, 25-year-old Barbadian Darian King is one step away from competing in a second Grand Slam championship after he defeated ninth seed Alexander Bublik 7-5, 6-0.
“It feels fantastic,” said King. “I haven’t been feeling very well recently, but everyone assisting me has done a great job to help me play this well.”
Sweden’s Elias Ymer, Czech Vaclav Safranek, Andrea Collarini of Argentina and Americans Denis Kudla and Mackenzie McDonald also progressed to the qualifying round for the major championship, which begins on 15 January. Sixteen matches were completed on day two of qualifying.
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